Polysulphide or polurethane? the debate hots up
In
an interview The Gl@zine conducted with Wolfgang Netzer (pictured), Head
of Marketing and Sales at Henkel Teroson, at Glasstec, Düsseldorf,
Mr. Netzer gives his views on the insulating glass sealants market and
talks about Henkel Teroson's plans for the future. Germany has witnessed
a dramatic decline in insulating glass that also has affected manufacturers
of insulating glass sealants. What is more, the largest manufacturer of
polymers for insulating glass sealants, Rohm & Haas, ceased production
in 2001, which caused various reactions among sealant manufacturers.
THE GL@ZINE:
According to experts' forecasts, the window and insulating glass industry
faces years of hard slog in view of the low economic activity in central
Europe. This will also affect sealant manufacturers. How do you view the
present situation?
NETZER:
Nobody expected such a long recession. In Germany, for instance, the industry
started to decline sharply as early as in 1995. Thus, between 1995 and
2001 window manufacturing decreased from 25.5 million to 16 million units.
In the same period, insulating glass manufacturers had to cope with a
decline in production from 35 million/m2 to less than 28 million/m2. In
this business climate, Henkel Teroson managed to increase its market shares
and will continue to expand this position.
THE GL@ZINE:
Which strategy will Henkel Teroson pursue to achieve their objectives?
NETZER:
Especially in difficult times we place our bet on continuity: we want
to continue to be a predictable and reliable partner for our customers
in the future, offering a proven range of products. Our team of experts
in research and development, quality management, manufacturing, application
technology, logistics and sales gives proof of this fact. All of these
functions are concentrated at our Heidelberg location. Furthermore, everybody
knows that a cheap product with quality problems can quickly turn out
to be very expensive if there are complaints. lnnovations are another
pillar of our strategy, opening up new opportunities for our customers.
We are continuing and intensifying the dialogue with our customers and
prospects at this exhibition.
THE GL@ZINE:
Last year the market was concerned that there might be a supply bottleneck
for polysulphide polymers. Would it not have been the better strategy
for Henkel Teroson to go for the low-priced raw material polyurethane
for insulating glass sealants?
NETZER:
Definitely not! First, we did not join in last year's scaremongering and
informed our customers in time that we would continue to supply them with
the quantities required and with our proven quality. We kept our word.
Second, it was our aim to keep unavoidable price increases as moderate
as possible. Many of our customers appreciated this fairness. Third, it
is our philosophy to supply our customers with products that are not the
cheapest on the market but offer the best value for money, i.e. polysulphide
sealants that haven proven their performance for decades. Our strategy
is not influenced by short-term price trends.
THE GL@ZINE:
What are, in your opinion, the advantages of polysulphide sealants compared
to insulating glass sealants based on polyurethane?
NETZER:
From our point of view there are many advantages. Let me just focus on
two aspects:
1) Depending on the production line and programme used by an insulating
glass manufacturer, the unproblematic polysulphide sealants require considerably
less cleaning and maintenance work on the production line than polyurethane.
This puts the purported advantage of a lower purchase price into perspective.
2) The build-up of adhesion in aluminium and stainless steel spacers with
polyurethane is clearly weaker in the first weeks than with polysulphide,
depending on the formulation. Often, certain companies fail to comply
wiith quality standards, e.g. when insulating glass manufacturers carry
out in-house monitoring according to the quality and test conditions adopted
by the German quality alliance of insulating glass units manufacturers.
In our view, insufficient adhesion on the spacer bar presents a risk because
in the first few days the insulating glass edge-seal is subject to considerable
stress during transport and assembly.
It is at this early stage that damages can be caused to the edge-seal
system which might over the years impair the functioning of the insulating
glass unit. And it is difficult to establish the original cause of the
damage in retrospective. People often tend to forget that from the very
beginning the exterior sealant has a structural adhesion function which
goes beyond the mere sealing function of an expansion joint.
THE GL@ZINE:
So, do you see bright prospects for polysulphide insulating glass sealants?
NETZER:
Oh yes. But let me explain why I'm optimistic: polysulphide technology
has been the leading technology worldwide for decades. This is not a coincidence.
By the way, contrary to what others may say, polysulphide is again a clear
market leader in 2002. The product offers good value for money and this
is an increasingly valid argument for using polysulphide also in the present.
Polysulphide can be processed without any problems by all common production
plants. Its end properties and long-term performance have proven their
reliability for decades. Strong market players - both polymer and sealant
manufacturers - have ensured the optimum supply for the market with superb
and lasting quality. For instande, Akcros have increased their production
capacity for polysulphide polymers by 50%.
Sealant manufacturers also have sufficient capacity to produce and supply
the required quantities, even when the construction industry picks up.
http://www.henkel.com
http://www.teroson.de
mailto:wolfgang.netzer@henkel.com
Kömmerling
Chemie: Maintaining a Good Hold on a Difficult Market
Even
if the economic figures in Germany give little cause for celebration,
Kömmerling Chemie is well-positioned on the adhesive and sealant
market. Sales and turnover rose in 2001. In Europe, profits rose by 15%.
Even in the German insulating glass market sector which is going through
difficult times due to the recession in the construction industry, Kömmerling
Chemie was able to hold its ground - and will continue to do so. President
Jose C. Houssa (pictured), Pirmasens, stated: 'Another clear rise in turnover
will be recorded for 2002.'
The Claim to be a Market Leader
Besides the general economic situation, the company not only had to cope
with the economic problems in 2001, but also with the temporary supply
problems of raw material suppliers of polysulphides. 'Despite the initial
setback we never experienced any difficulties,' Houssa stresses, 'particularly
as we offer a wider range of products than any of our competitors with
our polyurethanes, silicones, hotmelts, TPS and cast resins.' New markets
are opening up for the environmentally-friendly hotmelts in particular
- especially abroad.
Wide-ranging investment measures, at present particularly in R&D,
but also in the areas of EDP, laboratories, production and logistics,
are meant to form the basis of continued growth. Jose C. Houssa states:
'Our main activities lay - and will lie in the future, too - in the glass
market sector. This is where we want to take up a leading position in
the adhesive and sealant industry worldwide - thanks to our wide product
range and the sophisticated distribution structure in Europe.'
'As
regards insulating glass sealants, we have the widest product range on
the market - no idle boast when you see Kömmerling's wall covered
with certificates. This is an expression of sophisticated R&D work
and a clear benefit to our partners in the insulating glass industry.
The advantage for them is: whatever the problem, Kömmerling Chemie
will provide the perfect solution. And all from one source!' says the
company.
Wide
Range of Equipment for Nearly every Requirement
The product designation GD (for 'glasdicht' or 'sealed glass') runs through
the Kömmerling range of primary and secondary sealants for the manufacture
of insulating glass. The thermoplastic butyl-based synthetic rubbers are
traded under the name of GD 115 with the relevant requirement-specific
performance profiles. GD 116 is the two-component polysulphide sealant
for secondary sealing of dual sealed insulating glass. GD 677 (for heat
mirror insulating glass GD 677 HM) stands for two-component polyurethane
sealants. For glazing with exposed side casements, such as in conservatories
and greenhouses, the one-component silicone sealant GD 823 N is available.
The solvent-free hotmelt butyl sealant Isomelt is enjoying increasing
popularity (for reasons of environmental protection).
Ködimelt TPS is Kömmerling's thermoplastic spacer with its own
integrated desiccant. A multi-functional product, which replaces the spacer
profile, primary sealants and molecular sieve.
Ködilan stands for Kömmerling cast resin technology. As a one-component
UV-curing cast resin, Ködilan PCR is suitable for the manufacture
of compound glass, the specifications of M and AHV additionally ensuring
acoustic insulation or the hindering of attacks. The three-component cast
resin systems Ködilan SLV and AHV also differentiate themselves by
their orientation towards compound glass with properties which either
promote acoustic insulation or hinder attacks.
Complete Range Simplifies Purchasing
Besides all this, there is a wide choice of accessories: ranging from
Ködisil primers to Körapur, Köratan or Köratac adhesives
and Körasolv cleaning products (for cleaning up adhesives) to the
appropriate processing devices.
'Single sourcing' made easy! This will please not only your production
staff but also your colleagues in the purchasing and controlling departments.
http://www.koe-chemie.de
mailto:dichtstoffe@koe-chemie.de